Ira Wood, a notable author known for his novel The Kitchen Man, has released a new memoir titled You’re Married to Her?, which explores his 35-year relationship with renowned poet and novelist Marge Piercy. Wood, who was 26 and an emerging writer when he first met the much older Piercy, shares insights from their long partnership in an interview for the Somerville Community Access TV show Poet to Poet: Writer to Writer.
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In the interview, Wood reminisces about how he felt fortunate to meet Piercy, who had just turned 40 at the time. He describes her as an incredibly glamorous woman while reflecting on his own immaturity back in 1976. Wood acknowledges that their enduring relationship owes much to their compatibility; as he notes, many of Piercy's previous partners were intimidated by her feminist stance, while he was not.
He states, "One of the reasons Marge and I have been together so long is because we are not competitive." Wood, who did not anticipate a career as a writer, found fulfillment in supporting Piercy's career and passions.
The conversation shifts to family influences, where Wood discusses his father, who struggled with depression and a lack of emotional connection. Wood remarks, "I see all of his mistakes in life in myself," and reflects on how his Buddhist practice has helped him recognize and address potential patterns in his own behavior. His memoir also touches on his family's impact on his identity as a writer, a topic he previously avoided due to familial backlash from his first novel.
Wood shares his educational background, having attended the State University at Albany, noting it was not his first choice due to financial constraints. He expresses reluctance towards traditional academic roles, stating, "I never wanted to become a teacher," despite being eventually offered a teaching position based on his published works. He highlights the difficulty he faced in recognizing his own legitimacy as a writer, particularly before he achieved publication.
Reflecting on how his relationship with Piercy shaped his writing journey, he admits that without her influence, he might not have pursued a career as a writer at all. Wood also speaks about his time working as a waiter, which inspired his novel The Kitchen Man, and discusses the challenges of balancing the waiting job with his writing ambitions. Despite the late shifts hindering his productivity, he valued the community of artists he encountered in that environment.
In closing, Wood addresses the struggles with addiction common among writers, suggesting that successful authors must find ways to overcome these challenges, while acknowledging that individual experiences can vary.